Golden Oldies from the Tonyans

Product Notes

The Tonyans is a husband - wife duo consisting of Bill on keyboards and Arliss on vocals. The Tonyans Entertaining Audiences for Over 60 Years Mailing Address: 13180 Southport Lane #167I Seal Beach, CA 90740 THEIR STORY Bill and Arliss Tonyan were born in 1930 in the cold state of Minnesota. Bill Tonyan's mother Marie played piano for audiences while the silent movies played in the local theater. Bill picked up an accordian and became a bonafied musician at age 6 while Arliss started much later playing saxaphone in the high school band. Bill and his mom and dad played local bars before Bill was old enough to drive, and that was the first Tonyan Family Band. Bill and Arliss married in 1949 and had their first child in 1951. Bill played music to support his family while Arliss sang lullabyes to their children. In 1955 with 4 children in tow the Tonyans moved from Albany, Minnesota to Yankton, South Dakota, where Bill joined the WNAX Bohemian Band. While Bill was touring the midwest Arliss was home with now 8 children, 7 boys and one girl. Eventually the Tonyans moved back to Albany and Bill opened a Music store in St. Cloud, Minnesota. While running the store Bill would play music gigs at night while his mother Marie taught all of the Tonyan children accordian, piano and organ. The kids eventually branched off into different instruments and started the second edition of The Tonyan Family Band. In 1969 all 10 Tonyans played local fairs around Albany. In 1970 The Tonyans sold the music store and the house and took all eight kids on the road in a Winnebago bus to pursue a musical career. From 1970 until 1979 the Tonyan Family Band toured the United States and lived like gypsies without a home to hang their hats. In 1979 they purchased a home in Canoga Park, California. The family band played different venues in the Southern California area with their long journey ending at Knott's Berry Farm for four years (1982-1986). Bill and Arliss relocated to Mesa, Arizona and started the musical act The Gadabouts. Due to health reasons they moved back to Southern California in 2006. Shortly after moving back Bill was diagnosed with Stage IV liver/colon cancer and had major surgery to remove the cancer. He has been cancer free for over a year, thanks to the knowledgeable doctors at the USC Cancer Center. Bill and Arliss are now back to doing what they love, seeing the smiles and hearing the appreciation of their audiences. Although this is the smallest version of The Tonyan Family Band, Bill and Arliss still bring over 60 years of professionalism and know-how to entertaining audiences. To Book The Tonyans At Your Event Call: (562) 338-5909 Fax: (714) 200-0864 Email: TheTonyans@yahoo.com HOME EMAIL CREDITS.

Credits

6 Elvis Tribute: How Time Slipsaway/You Don't Have to Say You're Sorry [M

7 The Way You Look Tonight

8 Yellow Days

9 Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

10 Walk Right Back

11 Sabor Ami

12 Fools Fall in Love

The Tonyans is a husband - wife duo consisting of Bill on keyboards and Arliss on vocals. The Tonyans Entertaining Audiences for Over 60 Years Mailing Address: 13180 Southport Lane #167I Seal Beach, CA 90740 THEIR STORY Bill and Arliss Tonyan were born in 1930 in the cold state of Minnesota. Bill Tonyan's mother Marie played piano for audiences while the silent movies played in the local theater. Bill picked up an accordian and became a bonafied musician at age 6 while Arliss started much later playing saxaphone in the high school band. Bill and his mom and dad played local bars before Bill was old enough to drive, and that was the first Tonyan Family Band. Bill and Arliss married in 1949 and had their first child in 1951. Bill played music to support his family while Arliss sang lullabyes to their children. In 1955 with 4 children in tow the Tonyans moved from Albany, Minnesota to Yankton, South Dakota, where Bill joined the WNAX Bohemian Band. While Bill was touring the midwest Arliss was home with now 8 children, 7 boys and one girl. Eventually the Tonyans moved back to Albany and Bill opened a Music store in St. Cloud, Minnesota. While running the store Bill would play music gigs at night while his mother Marie taught all of the Tonyan children accordian, piano and organ. The kids eventually branched off into different instruments and started the second edition of The Tonyan Family Band. In 1969 all 10 Tonyans played local fairs around Albany. In 1970 The Tonyans sold the music store and the house and took all eight kids on the road in a Winnebago bus to pursue a musical career. From 1970 until 1979 the Tonyan Family Band toured the United States and lived like gypsies without a home to hang their hats. In 1979 they purchased a home in Canoga Park, California. The family band played different venues in the Southern California area with their long journey ending at Knott's Berry Farm for four years (1982-1986). Bill and Arliss relocated to Mesa, Arizona and started the musical act The Gadabouts. Due to health reasons they moved back to Southern California in 2006. Shortly after moving back Bill was diagnosed with Stage IV liver/colon cancer and had major surgery to remove the cancer. He has been cancer free for over a year, thanks to the knowledgeable doctors at the USC Cancer Center. Bill and Arliss are now back to doing what they love, seeing the smiles and hearing the appreciation of their audiences. Although this is the smallest version of The Tonyan Family Band, Bill and Arliss still bring over 60 years of professionalism and know-how to entertaining audiences. To Book The Tonyans At Your Event Call: (562) 338-5909 Fax: (714) 200-0864 Email: TheTonyans@yahoo.com HOME EMAIL CREDITS.